No backing down in Ashes battle: Knight

England captain Heather Knight says her side will not back down against Australia in the blockbuster pink-ball Commonwealth Bank Women's Ashes Test match, declaring the tourists will "throw a few punches" back at their aggressive hosts.

Knight's strong comments were delivered on the eve of the first-ever day-night Ashes Test at North Sydney Oval in a match England must not lose or see the Australians retain the trophy.

Australia have made known their intentions to be more hostile and attacking throughout the multi-format campaign and with the series on the line England plan to match everything the home side is set to dish out.

"They are going to come at us hard, no doubt about it," Knight told reporters on Wednesday.

"That's the way Australian teams generally play.

Unseen variations 'up my sleeve': Wellington

"For us, it is about nullifying that threat and quietening them down in terms of how they play.

"It's playing our way and standing up to them face to face and trying to throw a few punches back.

"It's always a tough contest, there's always a few words said and it's just a fierce contest on the field."

While Villani confirmed the banter and rivalry between the two sides still very much exists, the fact that most of the Ashes combatants play together in various Rebel Women's Big Bash League teams has seen the niggle stay on the field.

Villani played alongside England new-ball duo Katherine Brunt and Any Shrubsole with the Perth Scorchers in last summer's WBBL, and it sounds as though Brunt will be hoping to catch up with her T20 teammate again this season.

"I read an article the other day that Katherine Brunt is expecting to be at my house for Christmas," Villani said.